Spurs vs. Rockets: Score, Highlights, Reaction from 2016 Regular Season

Not even the red-hot Houston Rockets with a double-digit lead late in the fourth quarter can stop the San Antonio Spurs on the road. 

San Antonio turned a 96-83 deficit with less than five minutes remaining into a 102-100 victory on Tuesday at the Toyota Center thanks to a 19-4 run to end the game. The Spurs moved to 23-5 overall and 15-1 on the road this season with the spurt and snapped Houston’s 10-game winning streak in the process.

Danny Green drilled a three-pointer with less than a minute left, and Patty Mills hit what proved to be the game-winner from deep in the final seconds. James Harden had a chance to win it on the other end, but his buzzer-beating three rimmed out and dropped Houston’s record to 21-8.

Share Tweet Embed

The Spurs received a balanced offensive effort with six players scoring in double figures. Kawhi Leonard led the way with 21 points, five steals, five rebounds and four assists, while Pau Gasol (10 points and 10 rebounds) and LaMarcus Aldridge (17 points and 10 rebounds) each notched double-doubles. 

San Antonio overcame 19 turnovers, seven of which were Leonard’s, to beat the Rockets thanks largely to its 12-of-23 mark (52.2 percent) from three-point range.

Despite missing the potential game-winner, Harden finished with a near triple-double with 31 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. However, he scored just four points in the final quarter and shot 1-of-11 from three-point range. Houston as a whole shot a dismal 6-of-38 (15.8 percent) from downtown.

ESPN Stats & Info and Elias Sports noted Harden at least ended a formidable defensive streak for the Spurs in the losing effort:

James Harden w/ 31 tonight That snaps 25-gm streak for Spurs w/o allowing a 30-pt scorer (was longest active streak in NBA) @EliasSports

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 21, 2016

Neither team established much momentum in the first quarter, as they exchanged baskets and small spurts before San Antonio took a 26-24 lead into the second.

Harden was largely a one-man show for the Rockets in the opening 12 minutes …

continue reading in source www.bleacherreport.com